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It looked that way last week after the latest blast from the Duchess of Sussex’s father Thomas Markle.

The 74-year-old has dropped all pretence of being a loving parent and launched a fusillade of fury against his daughter and her new family.

Mr Markle says Meghan has not spoken to him since her wedding in May and – more controversially – that Harry’s mother the late Princess Diana would have “loathed” the way the Royal Family has treated him.

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Spurred by the disappointment of not being at his daughter’s glorious day, his claims are becoming more serious.

Mr Markle now says Meghan has removed him from her life and fears he will never see his future grandchildren by her.

He complains she has changed her phone number and, “I have no way of contacting my daughter”.

To that extent, there is a crisis.

The palace has failed to protect the royal couple and it can surely be no coincidence that the head of royal communications, Sally Osman, and the Queen’s media secretary, Steve Kingstone, have tendered their resignations, although both deny that their separate and independent decisions to move on were related to it.

It leaves the Royal Family in a dangerous vacuum.

Ms Osman is highly regarded as a media communicator and without her, solving the problem will be made that much more difficult.

Officials were made aware of the unconventional nature of the Markle family in 2016 when the Sunday Express revealed in a world exclusive Harry and Meghan were an item.

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Harry and Meghan need to grasp the nettle, Wilson says (Image: GETTY)

Soon after, they were briefed on problems ahead: her father’s bankruptcy, her half-brother Thomas Jr’s arrest after holding a gun to his girlfriend’s head and the critical views of her half-sister Samantha Grant.

These are not problems with which the royals are familiar.

Yet courtiers had plenty of time before the wedding to construct a defensive wall around Meghan and prevent what is now called “the Markle debacle”.

While her mother Doria has conducted herself with dignity, these other family members have all spoken out offering their opinions.

Have their words damaged Meghan in the eyes of the public? Not at all, I believe.

But are they upsetting our newest duchess and so can something be done to stop this campaign in its tracks?

The answer is yes.

For too long palace officials left the Markle problem unanswered yet they are all too familiar with wayward relatives – the Duchess of Cambridge’s criminal uncle Gary Goldsmith being a case in point.

Mr Goldsmith has over the years lurched from one public relations crisis to another, including battering his wife – yet by way of careful palace management a gap has been established between the princess and her uncle.

These days Mr Goldsmith’s behaviour won’t rub off on Catherine – the problem has been contained.

Can the same be done for Meghan?

We know Mr Markle feels excluded and while that problem remains unaddressed he poses a threat to his daughter’s peace of mind and to her reputation.

Living on slender means in Mexico, he may be tempted to reveal more than we need to know about her past life.

So far Kensington Palace has kept Mr Markle at arm’s length but that strategy has been a failure.

A private visit by Harry and Meghan during the summer holiday period would, from all he says, soothe his upset and might make him look at things afresh.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with President Michael D Higgins, his wife Sabina and their dogs Brod and Sioda

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold hands on their wedding day

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Meghan Markle and the Queen at Royal Ascot

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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex looks radiant in Ireland

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Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland arrive at Cliveden House Hotel the night before her wedding

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Meghan Markle joined Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Prince William for her first Royal Foundation Forum

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's official engagement photo

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wave as they leave Windsor Castle after their wedding

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Meghan Markle Congratulates Harry with a Kiss

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Meghan Markle in Philip Treacy hat for her first royal engagement as a newly wed

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a photo taken by Alexi Lubomirski at Frogmore House, Windsor

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Meghan Markle walks down the aisle to marry Prince Harry

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex smiles at Kate during Wimbledon

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Meghan Markle and the Queen’s first joint royal engagement together in Chester, England

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Meghan Markle during her wedding day procession

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet three year old Walter Cullen

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first public kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after they exchanged vows

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Meghan Markle visits the iconic Titanic Belfast

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Cardiff Castle

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Meghan Markle looks radiant on a royal tour before her wedding

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Meghan wore a green Givenchy top and pencil skirt when she arrived in Ireland

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games

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Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were pictured talking together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day

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Meghan Markle on the first day of her tour of Ireland

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at Westminster Abbey

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Meghan Markle greets a child as she departs the 2018 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle releases an official set of engagement photos

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017

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Meghan Markle stands next the the Queen

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Meghan Markle places a hand on Prince Harry's back

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Meghan Markle in St George's Chapel

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with their bridesmaids and page boys

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Meghan Markle joins the Queen and Royal Family for a traditional church service on Christmas Day

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry joined Charles and Camilla and the Cambridge's for the official pictures

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Kate Middleton and Prince William joined Meghan Markle at Prince Harry at Westminster Abbey for RAF service

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk away arm-in-arm

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It is not beyond the power of royal officials to arrange such a discreet meeting.

And, if the difficulty is over money it is not beyond Harry’s purse to make sure Mr Markle is “looked after”.

Something must be done and urgently.

It needs Harry and Meghan to grasp the nettle and go face-to-face with their unpredictable relative, for it beggars belief that the words of a disappointed old man thousands of miles away should cause them hurt.

Since her arrival on the scene Meghan has put a new spring in the step of the House of Windsor, bringing glamour and a sense of purpose to the institution.

By doing nothing, palace officials may allow her image and reputation to be tarnished just when she needs all the support she can get.